The business partner of former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was freed late on January 24 from a prison in Russia's northwestern Arkhangelsk region after a court ruled to reduce his sentence to time served.

Lebedev had spent more than 10 years behind bars. His lawyer, Vladimir Krasnov, on January 25 could not say whether Lebedev plans to remain in Russia or leave the country.

Lebedev's release came a month after Khodorkovsky was unexpectedly freed after being pardoned by President Vladimir Putin.

Lebedev and Khodorkovsky were arrested in 2003 in a tax evasion case seen as revenge for Khodorkovsky challenging Putin's power.